West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-29
A TERRIBLE TEN MINUTES

Al Il Lhltllt DIl1 i EN MINI u IIN,
1t happened one afternoon last wear
In the month Of November. that re.
ceiyed telegram calling for my presence
In London early next morning on an i'm
portant business mlttcr To such a
summons there was but one answer pos
sible, so, with just rcgretful thought
Tor a card party should have to forego.
wired back this reply:
Ar. J. Dsron, Andertoa's Hotel. London.
Shall leave Burtown by the IL tonight
ana VIII call on you tomorrow at S:l5.
'kNIGHTLYn
Having dispatched my message.
finished OF the days work with ali
speed. aid then returned to my lodgings
TO make preparations for my Journey
These consisted principally OF examining
soft cap and n few other necessaries
into a carpet-bag after which followed
the discussion Of hearty meal, and the
delivery of an eXhortation to my land
lady to feed my foxterrier, Grip, az his
usual hours
The remainder OF tho evening wa,
spent In sSimming over the mornino's
paper, wherein found little TO Interest
me. In disgust, / flung the thing on the
soor. il alighted at a graceful onoIc
on whose apex appeared the heading. as
conspicuous as loaded type c1uld make
1T: Shocking Wife Murder in Burtown
Arrest Of the Murderer"
With mental apology to the pub.
fishers OF the CUoAiclc for the iniustice
had done them as caterers TO the
public craving for no, rors, picked up
the paper and proceeded to digest tho
narrowing details "
The gist of the news was as follows.
An abandoned ru fian, Chppy Watson
ny name, had, after the fashion of his
class, beaten in his wifc's skull with a
maliet, In consequence of some domestic
disagreement. Having committed the
1eed, hc cool'y put on his coat and
nat, and was proceeding to depart.
when the ne ghbors and police. attracted
by the screams of the unfortunate victim.
rushed in and scared him. This IVES
all, or nearly all the paragraph con
tanned, except for the usual information
that "the prisoner VIII be brought un
before the magistrates this morning. and
charged with causing the wilful muir
der of his wife"
III was now past eleven-t.me for me
10 make my way down to the station
rather more than time, in fact. since
that imposing structure was distant
from my lodgings by fully two miles.
fortunately, my bag was light and |
shafei IN Its pleasing characteristic of
DelnS unburdened by superauous weight.
none the less, on reaching my deslina-
uon there was only one minute left me
"hc'e 10 take my ticket and secure
= scat. The latter operation, thanks to
the slowness of the bookin0-clcrk i'm
m my 81,
compiished by running the gauntlet Of
the guards and porters MS the train
began to move.
No sooner bad ascertaincd that my
limbs were uninjured by the uncere-
monlous fashion in which the railwav
ohcials had assisted me to my scaf
than l discovered that the only other
tenant OF the compartment i'm which I
was ensconccd was a young lady. and
ono, moreover, OF no small b.auty. Now
am shy man as far as the fair sex is
concerned. Among men, ] have self
possession enough and 10 spare: but in
the pre- ence Of ladies, that self possession
vanlshes with most uncalled for roniditv
In the presence OF ladies, yes but here
tnere was but one who was hound 10
kcop me for whole hour, until the train
should make its first stop. So il han
pened that, rs contemplated the charms
OF my vis-a-vis from beh nd the evenino,
PAPER which had found time TO buv on
my Hight t. the station, n measure of nv
courage returned, and i'm the inspiritin
words Of Mr.. Gilbert, said I 10 myself
I'm take heart and make start. faint
heart never won fair lady"
trus, you were not alarmed by NV
unceTemonious entry1" remarked.
with some inward misgivings, but much
outward assurance.
For answer, n quiet stare and slight
contraction Of the pretty mouth Of inv
cOmpanion-in indicat ng her opinion thar
as stranger and unintroduccd: had mo-
right 70 speak TO her.
Ihs 70 an ordinary male animal was
tho moment for strategic attack upon tEe
TAR ones scrupios; Ter me it was the
exact opposite-the moment for highf.
nad night been possible Os'ricb-likc.
loured my face behind my newspaper
mere being no sand availablo-aud i'm n
rev moments heard t) my relief n
corresponding rustic f'Om tho opposite
sl9e OF the carriage as my pretty prudc
followed suit The sense ofdcfcat and
disgrace fairly overwhelmed me for n
while, and my eyes wandered over the
paper ] held In my hand. secino but
understanding not what they saw. AT
length they lighted upon familiar
name "Chippy Watson. and their
owner recovered his senses and almost
forgot his grief as be read the following
lines.
''fhe Burtown Murder Escape of the
Prisoner. After detailing the incidents
Of the hearing before the magistrates
and the remand Of the prisoner, pending
the inquest the paragraph went on as
follows.
con leaving the court Watson was
conducted between four officers 10 the
van. Just as he was Stepping in. and
when the policemen were cndeavorino to
keep back the crowd that pressed round
tho prisoner suddenly snapped his hand
cuffs in some inexplicablc manner. and
knocking down the constablcs who threw
themselves upon him, rokc through the
bystandors and fed down the street The
Whole affair took place as it seemed in q
second. enc minute, and Watson, rigor